Stephen King

Eoin

Wasn't mad about these:

Hearts in Atlantis
Dreamcatcher
Desperation
The Regulators

sxt

Yeah I thought the ending on Dreamcatcher was terrible and cell! Never read Hearts in Atlantis... Had a wet spot for Desperation/ Regulators though:p maybe because it took me about three years to source both books !

pavb2

Just coming to the end of the Stand now, it doesn't feel like a book of over 1000 pages

Liked Tom Cullen, Kojak, Nick & Trash Can Man

Who am I to criticise but following on from other comments I think Flagg would have worked equally as well without the supernatural bits, levitating etc, you know like some kind of opportunist megalomaniac

Any how I think it was worth the read but wouldn't say it was the best thing I've ever read.

filmfan

I agree it's worth the read but the first half of the book is the most powerful by far

Mackman

sxt wrote: »

Have you ever read an Sk book that you did not like? I don't think that I have allthough the endings of a few books did suck alot!

I thought "Insomnia" was terrible, its the only one from SK that i didnt like.
I love the Stand, but the ending is a little weak IMO. First half of the book wasy better than the second half

filmfan

I just bought The Passage yesterday by Justin Cronin, think if you're a King lover you're going to like this one, great so far!

irlirishkev

I first read SK when I was maybe 13 or 14. Cujo. Loved it, and spent the rest of my teens reading everything King had written pretty much. Then in my 20s, got more into non-fiction, but recently have started reading SK again.

Recently finished 'Lisey's Story'. For the first time ever, I found it difficult to get into a SK novel. Found it slow and (un-charactaristically) over complicated. But.. as it progressed, and everything started coming together, it worked really really well. It's not a horror, more a pyschological thriller, but I'd recommend it to anyone who likes King, if they want something written slightly different to his norm.

Re-reading Misery at the moment. A terrific gripping read.

I'm going to re-read Salem's Lot next. I don't remember much about it, other than it scared the hell out of me when I was younger..

A lot of folk criticizing Cell. I really liked it.

I love King's style of writing. You feel like he's talking straight to you. It's familiar and entertaining, with a good sense of humour - never too heavy. I can understand why he appeals to the masses.

I liked the Dark Tower books, but the ending was...

sxt

irlirishkev wrote: »

A lot of folk criticizing Cell. I really liked it.

I love King's style of writing. You feel like he's talking straight to you. It's familiar and entertaining, with a good sense of humour - never too heavy. I can understand why he appeals to the masses.

I really liked Cell too ,except the ending i felt was a bit of a letdown. His characterisation is phenomeonal, making you feel for the characters and care what happen to them. There was one very memorable and sad moment in that book that sticks out for me,I had to read that part numerous times in an effort to console myself

filmfan

I know I read The Cell and liked it but for some reason I can't remember any of it now, must give it another go when i finish The Passage (which may be a while as it's 800 pages)

moonflower

I'm reading Dreamcatcher at the moment and I'm finding it really hard to get into. It just seems a little too weird. Does it get better or should I just give up?

Travel is good

I must get a copy of Under The Dome this summer...[/QUOTE]
"The Dome" was in Waterstones Jervis yesterday for only €5.50!! Good bargain.

I still have my beloved copy of "The Stand", you've all inspired me to read it again. It's one of the very few books that I've kept, I normally give my books away or to charity.

Eoin

moonflower wrote: »

I'm reading Dreamcatcher at the moment and I'm finding it really hard to get into. It just seems a little too weird. Does it get better or should I just give up?

I remember disliking it, but can't remember which half of the book was more crap.

ncmc

moonflower wrote: »

I'm reading Dreamcatcher at the moment and I'm finding it really hard to get into. It just seems a little too weird. Does it get better or should I just give up?

I struggled with Dreamcatcher too. I thought the start was quite interesting and had real potential, but thought it got very weird in the middle and by the end I didn't have a clue what was going on. Also, I found it excessively gory

that scene in the bathroom where the alien comes out of him!

: :eek:

Not one of SK's that I would be reading again.

Not sure how far in to it you are. but the start was the better part of it IMO, so if you're struggling with the start, you may find you lose the will to live by the end!

Malice

moonflower wrote: »

I'm reading Dreamcatcher at the moment and I'm finding it really hard to get into. It just seems a little too weird. Does it get better or should I just give up?

I found it very wierd as well when I read it. I persevered with it as I wanted to see how it all panned out and while some parts of it were quite interesting, overall it was not one of King's better books.

genericguy

Travel is good wrote: »

I must get a copy of Under The Dome this summer...
"The Dome" was in Waterstones Jervis yesterday for only €5.50!! Good bargain.

I still have my beloved copy of "The Stand", you've all inspired me to read it again. It's one of the very few books that I've kept, I normally give my books away or to charity.

i absolutely loved the stand, although I agree that the first half was superior to the latter. similarly, under the dome is great, some good characters there, although when I finished it I wished I'd stopped reading earlier and imagined the ending because the final quarter was shyte.

Chairman Meow

King was easily my favourite writer growing up. I dont think he ever topped IT tho. That book is absolutely phenomenal. Not just as a horror story, but i dont think ive ever read something that really seems to transport you to small town america in the 50's. His storytelling and characterisation are incredible, he did the same with Stand by me (The Body), another story that really just conjures up small town america circa 1958 in your mind absolutely perfectly.
Criminally underrated as a writer, i think alot of people assumed hes jsut a hack horror writer, without realising that he wrote stories that went on to become great films like Shawshank Redemption, Stand by me, Dolores Claiborne, etc.
Still love his work, last one i read was Cell, which was pretty good. Not up to the standard of his old stuff, and it basically copies & pastes the ending from 'the fog'.
Favourite books would hav eto be IT, for sure, Salems Lot, The Shining, Pet Cemetary, and his short stories, Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew, Nightmares & Dreamscapes.
Oddly enough i dont like the stand. I thought the first 200 pages or so were phenomenal, then it slowed down, then it came to a stupid ending.

moonflower

ncmc wrote: »

I struggled with Dreamcatcher too. I thought the start was quite interesting and had real potential, but thought it got very weird in the middle and by the end I didn't have a clue what was going on. Also, I found it excessively gory

that scene in the bathroom where the alien comes out of him!

: :eek:

Not one of SK's that I would be reading again.

Not sure how far in to it you are. but the start was the better part of it IMO, so if you're struggling with the start, you may find you lose the will to live by the end!

That scene is the last bit I read, and it put me off a little. I didn't make it to the library today though so I think I'll finish it off as I've nothing else to read tonight.

I found the first of the Dark Tower graphic novels in the library yesterday. I read it last night and it was great! I've never really gotten into comic type things but this one has changed my opinion a little, a might give some more of them a go.

thebullkf

moonflower wrote: »

That scene is the last bit I read, and it put me off a little. I didn't make it to the library today though so I think I'll finish it off as I've nothing else to read tonight.

I found the first of the Dark Tower graphic novels in the library yesterday. I read it last night and it was great! I've never really gotten into comic type things but this one has changed my opinion a little, a might give some more of them a go.

get stuck in....they're saváiste ......*the books though...not graphics*

Travel is good

moonflower wrote: »

That scene is the last bit I read, and it put me off a little. I didn't make it to the library today though so I think I'll finish it off as I've nothing else to read tonight.

I found the first of the Dark Tower graphic novels in the library yesterday. I read it last night and it was great! I've never really gotten into comic type things but this one has changed my opinion a little, a might give some more of them a go.

For all you Stephen King fans, Baldoyle Library has just "released" the book The Dark Tower VII. This means that they have placed the book on a shelf in the lobby, free for you to take and enjoy. Bookcrossing is the practice of leaving your books around various different places, for other readers to pick up & pass on the book. See the website for more details:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8117294

If none of you pick up the book, I might go out there after work & see if I can "catch" the book as I'm a big fan of Stephen King anyway!

Good luck!

www.bookcrossing.com

filmfan

Book Crossing is a great idea, never done it myself

Travel is good

It is indeed. I have to say I enjoyed the trip out to Baldoyle yesterday evening, lovely scenery. I missed the Stephen King book (hopefully one of you got it!) but I got another free book, thank you Baldoyle library!

See here...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055897240

The next meeting of Dublin BookCrossers is next week, pm me if you would like to come along.

I'm in the process of registering "Under the Dome" so when I've read it I'll post a message here telling you where I've left it. It might take me a while, it's a big book!

filmfan

Travel is good wrote: »

It is indeed. I have to say I enjoyed the trip out to Baldoyle yesterday evening, lovely scenery. I missed the Stephen King book (hopefully one of you got it!) but I got another free book, thank you Baldoyle library!

See here...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055897240

The next meeting of Dublin BookCrossers is next week, pm me if you would like to come along.

I'm in the process of registering "Under the Dome" so when I've read it I'll post a message here telling you where I've left it. It might take me a while, it's a big book!

I'm still trying to work my way through that one, about two thirds in

moonflower

thebullkf wrote: »

get stuck in....they're saváiste ......*the books though...not graphics*

I read the books ages ago, they were great!

So I managed to finish Dreamcatcher and it definitely got better. It was interesting and quite good but I hated the ending.

thebullkf

moonflower wrote: »

I read the books ages ago, they were great!

So I managed to finish Dreamcatcher and it definitely got better. It was interesting and quite good but I hated the ending.

ditto....kings weakest points are his endings,,,,:(

Doom

Only book is.....The Stand;)

thebullkf

Doom wrote: »

Only book is.....The Stand;)

laws yes..............

vangoz

M-O-O-N spells Yes!!!

Raedwald

Just finished reading The Gunslinger, had to say found it quite hard to read and understand overall.

However I shall persevere with the rest of the series, in the hope that it does get better.

Dohnny Jepp

The dark tower series is up there with my all time favs, and the gunslinger was one of two of my favourite books of the series. So if you don't like it now I'm not sure you will like the rest.

PhiloCypher

Im reading the graphic novel adaptions of the Stand and The Dark Tower series if that counts , also a big fan of his Sons(Joe Hill) novel Heart shaped Box.

calex71

Raedwald wrote: »

Just finished reading The Gunslinger, had to say found it quite hard to read and understand overall.

However I shall persevere with the rest of the series, in the hope that it does get better.

Ah I was exactly the same a few months back, I actually remember posting here for clarification , I had so many questions. I've have been going through them at a steady pace and glad I stuck with it. Just finishing up #4 wizard and glass at the moment. It's my favorite so far. More of a western than the others since the Gunslinger which is why I like it more I think.

You're in for a shock with the 2nd one though, it was by far the hardest for me to get into because of the direction it takes etc and took me a good week to pick my jaw off the floor after the opening happenings :eek:, but was well worth the effort. My advice is try to ditch all the questions you have about it and just go with it as I nearly drove my self bonkers dwelling on the questions that eventually get answered

Raedwald

calex71 wrote: »

My advice is try to ditch all the questions you have about it and just go with it as I nearly drove my self bonkers dwelling on the questions that eventually get answered

Cool thanks for that, tbh I'm a pretty quick reader and don't really think about what I'm reading, I just try and get through the book and let it all unravel before me. Never been one for stopping and thinking about whats going on etc...

Revolution9

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056026467

Great news!!

ncmc

Revolution9 wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056026467

Great news!!

This could be really, really good or really, really awful. I hope it's the former!

Glowing

Hi -I'm 3/4 of the way through 'The Dome'- haven't bought a Stephen King book in years but this one really caught my eye.

Really good read, and it's getting better too .. can't wait for the finale!

Eoin

Glowing wrote: »

Really good read, and it's getting better too .. can't wait for the finale!

Uh oh. You might be disappointed. His endings can be a bit dodgy.

Kablamo!

New book released tomorrow, very excited!

ncmc

Kablamo! wrote: »

New book released tomorrow, very excited!

Already? God he really churns them out doesn't he! Any further info on the book Kablamo?

youcancallmeal

Looks like this is it, doesn't sound great to be honest or maybe thats just me?

ncmc

youcancallme>al wrote: »

Looks like this is it, doesn't sound great to be honest or maybe thats just me?

That could be interesting. Though I'm not a fan of novellas, I feel you are only getting into the story and it's over.

Kablamo!

I quite enjoy his novellas. It seems to be getting good reviews, will pick up a copy later on today hopefully... I imagine it'll be somewhat similiar to 'Hearts in Atlantis'.

CatFromHue

full dark no stars got a pretty good review in todays independent

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/review-full-dark-no-stars-by-stephen-king-2418388.html

not as good in the times

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/1113/1224283187031.html

Kablamo!

Managed to get a copy in Hughes and Hughes, oddly enough I couldn't get it in Easons.

I enjoyed it, my main criticism is that the last two stories are quite short.
Worth buying, imo.

Dades

Just downloaded the audiobook to give it a go. Read some good stuff about it too.

Amerika

My wife is a big time fan of King’s books and has them all (except for the newest... yet). A few years ago I thought it would be a nice Christmas gift to get her a signed book by King. I didn’t trust what I saw on the internet because I’ve read the vast majority are forgeries, and the ones that can be authenticated are quite pricey. Then one morning I got an email from The Haven Foundation (an organization started by Stephen King as a resource for writers who have found themselves unable to work due to disease or accident), because we were on his newsletter. They were offering a limited number of “The girl who loved Tom Gordon” signed by Stephen King. I ordered one straight away (if memory serves me correctly about $40) and within minutes they were all sold out (becasue after thinking about it for a few minutes I tried to order a second). On Christmas morning my wife opened the present and was not impressed. She said she already had the book and one with his signature didn’t mean anything because it wasn’t personalized specifically to her. Go figure! Now it sits in some box somewhere with the authentication from The Haven Foundation. I have come to the conclusion that all you King fans are nuts.

tman

Went for years between reading any of his work, then decided to try the first of the Dark Tower series before they ruin it with the upcoming film/TV travesty waiting to happen. Devoured the first one in a few days and I'm halfway through the second one at the moment and loving every page so far..
Say what you like about King, but no other book I've tried to read recently has so completely absorbed me during my 45 minute commute to work, thankfully I haven't missed a stop yet, but I can see it happening!

"Getting it on" from the Bachman books was one of my favourites as a kid - might have to grab another copy of that soon too

calex71 wrote: »

You're in for a shock with the 2nd one though, it was by far the hardest for me to get into because of the direction it takes etc and took me a good week to pick my jaw off the floor after the opening happenings :eek:

I got a copy of the Gunslinger which for some bizarre reason had the prologue from the second book at the end of the first book - didn't actually like the way it started (

having a character as strong as Roland getting seriously ****ed up by a big lobster

), so almost let it put me off buying the second book... Thankfully I went ahead and got it

DonOcelot

I havent read a Stephen King book before but i was very eager too. I looked up load of reviews and lists of the best king books etc...
I bought both the stand and the Dark Tower Series.

I started the Dark Tower series as it sounded very interesting.
Of course i started with"The Gunslinger", although at some parts i found it hard to keep going and a bit weird, in the end i enjoyed it, especially the conclusion. So i continued, i absolutely loved the second book, i was just completely immersed in the story, the doors aspect, the "lobtrocoties" and the characters themselves. I was really excited after finishing it and, although i found king dragged on a bit in general, i was eager to begin the third book, "The Wastelands".

This is where i get to my point. I cant finish this book. I just cant. I keep going back week after week but cant read more than 15/20 pages without just giving up. It so dragged out, there so much focus on bizarre but in the end pointless incidents and we're still in the dark on who and what exactly we are reading about.

So, my question, should i endure it and keep going?
I know fans are gonna say yeah, but is there any King fans who just couldnt get into this series either?

ncmc

This is where i get to my point. I cant finish this book. I just cant. I keep going back week after week but cant read more than 15/20 pages without just giving up. It so dragged out, there so much focus on bizarre but in the end pointless incidents and we're still in the dark on who and what exactly we are reading about.

So, my question, should i endure it and keep going?
I know fans are gonna say yeah, but is there any King fans who just couldnt get into this series either?

The Dark Tower series sort of divides people, a lot of people love it (myself included) and a lot of people hate it. For example, my sister is a huge King fan, has read pretty much everything he has written, but yet she just couldn't get into the series at all.

You don't say which part of the book you are on (maybe you could tell us using spoilers) I enjoyed the start and middle of The Wastelands but felt it seriously dragged in the second half of the book. Annoyingly, it ends on a cliffhanger and the start of the 4th book continues on with the nonsense! However, the rest of the 4th book is super, it goes back to when Roland was a teenager and is one of my favourites in the series. The 5th book is good, the 6th is good but gets seriously weird and I haven't read the 7th yet, but I have heard the ending is disappointing. I am currently reading them for the second time, to refresh my memory before reading the last one.

On the whole, I would say try and stick with it. I feel The Wastelands is a strange book, I think the first half would have been better included in book 2 and then the second half of book 3 and the first part of book 4 lumped in together.

It's up to you, if you're really hating it, then there's no point reading it, I however feel that if you can get through a couple of slow bits, then the series as a whole is really superb

ebbsy

I remember reading the Running Man, ( fantastic effort ) and then watching the film....they should remake the film in the book style.

Thinner was also very good. Not a bad film either.